Amerigo is actually the first thing that came to mind for me. It's a "chain" in that there are 4 or 5 locations in the southeast (2 in the Nashville area). The food, however, is very good, made from scratch, and not from frozen or the corporate commissary. It's a grown-up restaurant that can easily accomdate children. It's one of my favorite lunch places and a good dinner spot when I want something comfortable and familiar but good quality.

I think J Alex is a little less child-friendly, but also a decent option.

As for Bricktop's being a "poor man's Houston's" ... well ...first, I disagree. Second, it is in the building where THE original Houston's was for what? 25 years? And is owned by the man who started Houston's. So ... there ya go.

I'm sure Tin Angel would be fine for the kids, but it's probably worth calling Zola and asking them about it. I have seen young children (i'm thinking 3 or 4 years old) there but didn't examine their plates so I don't know whether they were being fed bits of what their parents ordered or had something specially prepared for them.

Just so everyone who's reading this thread knows, Zola closed a few months ago. I don't see Firefly (in Green Hills) mentioned here, and it's one of our favorite go-to places. That said, we're from a couple hours away and realize that we really need to add some new listings to our 'favorites' since we tend to eat at the same places too often. Add Germantown Cafe to that list . . .